India and China are “happy” with a planned 195-nation agreement to rein in global warming, a spokesman for a developing country bloc long at odds with the West says. “We’re happy with the agreement. We think it is balanced and we feel they’ve taken into account our interests,” Gurdial Singh …
Read More »#Unorthodox: Best way to deal with would-be jihadis? Don’t REASON with them.
Paris-based anthropologist Dounia Bouzar used to try religious arguments to turn young people away from militant Islam – and failed. So the 51-year-old grandmother developed her own techniques along the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous. Her main rule: Don’t try to reason with people. “Characteristically, a young person who has been …
Read More »#A320neo: Airbus secures biggest-ever order for aircraft with IndiGo deal
European aerospace giant Airbus has won its biggest ever order after India’s IndiGo finalized the purchase of 250 A320 neo aircraft in a £17 billion deal. The agreement confirms an earlier provisional order by IndiGo – India’s largest airliner by market share. IndiGo has now ordered 530 A320 family planes …
Read More »#Connections: Amar Singh donated $5 million to Clinton Foundation ahead of nuke deal, book claims
The controversial former leader of India’s Samajwad Party (Socialist Party) donated up to $5 million of his own money – amounting to his total declared wealth – to the family foundation of Bill and Hilary Clinton, a new book claims. Amar Singh, who is thought to be close friends of …
Read More »#MOU: European developent bank inks deal with CII to promote Indian investments overseas
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has teamed up with the Confederation of Indian Industry, India’s leading industry group, to increase joint investments between the EBRD and Indian corporations in regions where the development bank is active. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organizations on …
Read More »#Deal: Mahindra in talks to buy legendary Italian design outfit Pininfarina
Indian auto giant Mahindra and Mahinda has reportedly expressed an interest to buy the legendary Italian luxury car designer Pininfarina, according to reports. The Italian firm confirmed Mahindra’s interest but said there are no binding agreements as yet. Reuters quoted a Pininfarina source as saying that a possible deal would …
Read More »#Lifeline: Grosvenor House to revert back to British ownership as Roy strikes bail deal
The plush Grosvenor House Hotel in London has long been a favourite haunt of the British Asian community – from Award ceremonies to tea parties, event organizers have felt an affinity to the property owned by controversial Indian billionaire Subrata Roy. Now however, the historic Park Lane property is …
Read More »#Inked: India and France to push ahead with multi-billion dollar fighter jet deal
India and France have agreed to overcome differences and finalize the sale of 126 fighter jets to India in a deal worth an estimated $15 billion, the Indian defence ministry said.
France's Dassault Aviation has been trying to clinch a deal to sell India its Rafale jets since New Delhi chose the company over other foreign plane manufacturers in 2012.
But disagreements over cost and work-sharing have slowed talks, while India's weak economy has stretched government finances.
On Monday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar, who was appointed defence minister last month.
"Both sides agreed to take forward the strategic co-operation between the two countries. They discussed all issues including Rafale. It was decided that whatever differences still existed would be resolved in a fast-track manner," said Indian defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar.
Under the deal, which would provide a major boost to French domestic defence manufacturing, the first 18 planes will be made in France and shipped to India, while the remaining 108 will be produced by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
Rival manufacturers including the makers of the Eurofighter aircraft are hoping that the stalled Rafale deal will collapse, possibly opening the door to negotiations with a new vendor.
Read More »#UKAsianReview: ‘Holiday’ – A cheap package deal or five-star vacation?
“You are not getting any younger son”, Virat’s (Akshay Kumar) mom explains when they go bride-hunting immediately upon his arrival at Mumbai Central train station on his leave from the Indian Army. Mother certainly knows best. It looks like age is catching up with this ‘khiladi’. And no amount of …
Read More »#CONTROL: Vodafone buys out Indian partners in $1.5 billion deal
Britain’s Vodafone Group said it expected to close on Friday a deal to buy an 11 percent stake in its Indian business from minority partner Piramal Enterprises, giving it full ownership. Piramal said on Thursday it had agreed to sell its 11 percent stake to the British group for $1.5 …
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